Rise of the phoenix: New welding lids for secondary schools

Milton, ON - September 12, 2016 - Personal protective equipment is essential for secondary school welding students so they are safe and have the best experience as possible when welding and that is why the CWB Welding Foundation launched its Secondary School Welding Helmet Initiative

“We believe every student should have access to personal protective equipment whenever they strike an arc,” said Deborah Mates, Executive Director of the CWB Welding Foundation. “Welding helmets can be costly for schools because of their limited budgets, and after consultations with several schoolboards, we decided to create this initiative, to provide assistance the best way we could.”

During the first year of the CWB Welding Foundation’s National Secondary School Welding Helmet initiative, 1,800 graphic, auto-darkening helmets were distributed to secondary schools with full-time welding programs across Canada.

One of the first schools to receive their helmets, 10 in total, was Ottawa Technical Secondary School (OTSS) in Ottawa, Ontario.

Welding instructor John White said the helmets will ensure students have the best personal protective equipment which will in turn provide them with the best welding experience.

“We’re very thankful for this, and it’s great to know that there is a welding organization out there such as the CWB Welding Foundation who helps grass roots welding programs,” said White. “It’s difficult to express our gratitude. This really means a lot and the students are having a wonderful time using the new helmets – they really like the graphics of the phoenix.”

About the CWB Welding Foundation
The Foundation’s key mandates are to support public safety awareness, and to address the skilled welding labour shortage in Canada. It will also focus on creating access to educational opportunities for all levels of education from elementary through to post- secondary, as well as indigenous peoples, women, those with disabilities and visible minorities.

Related Programs

Secondary

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Secondary students who wish to pursue an apprenticeship or post-secondary education in welding are invited to apply through our student awards program. In addition, we provide all secondary schools in Canada with personal protective equipment and secondary educators with CWB Acorn curriculum at no charge. Capital, equipment, and consumables support is provided as per program guidelines to qualifying applicants as per funding availability